another question on BMI and weight goals.

I am a little confused.

 

When we figure BMI, should we subtract for the skin and bone enlargement?

I started at 368# and now weigh 220, which is 148# of loss. By the chart, I should be at about 174# to be in the “normal” zone. I have carried at least 100 extra pounds continuously for at least 15 years and have yo-yoed more than that for at least 30+ years. So do I add about 10# for bones and I DEFANETLY have extra skin, more than a handful in front and a good amount even in back! I would concretively guess that it weighs 10#. I need a 38” waist (for the moment, I am considering buying 36 soon) to get over the extra skin but my legs are swimming in the pants.

 

In the grand scheme of things, on a “normal” person, would I weigh 200# according to the charts? This would put me with a BMI of 28.8, square in the middle of “overweight”, rather than the “obese” category with a BMI of 31.7 that I get with my “raw” weight and height. That would indicate that I have only about 25# more to go rather than the 45# that it appears to be.  

I know that with dogs, if you can’t see the ribs but can easily feel them, the dog’s weight is about right. I am just about there. I do have some MOOBS but I can feel my ribs (on my sides) with about ¼ to 3/8” of fat on top, on the MOOBS, there is about ¾”. My rib cage is higher than my stomach when I am lying down, in fact it is quite pronounced, and my wife has complained that it is too hard to lie on! The collar bone and shoulder bones are easy to see in a mirror with only skin and no fat covering them.  

So what gives, I was kind of wondering about this subject in the back of my mind but had not really thought about asking the question out loud until the other two threads popped up.

My first goal was to get to 220# it has now changed to get me to the 175 target for "normal" in the charts. If I just get under 200 and take off the extra skin, I should be  "done" loosing, right?

Cal, I’d say soon as you slip on those 36" pants and wear them comfortably you’d "Be There." Yes? Al depends on what your Goal is... Longer life, or Underwear Model? Excess skin can through off the BMI calculations a good bit. It also tends to keep "drawing up" about 3 to 6 months behind The loss. Once you hit a stable weight, Give it another 6 months before you decide how much extra skin you have. It’ll change for half a year, easy. Congratulations on your loss. Long term is more about keeping your self healthier Than it is about the scales. Long term exercise seems to be the biggest component in adding extra stamina and years of feeling good. Best Wishes- Dx

Thanks DX! The skin keeps going away for 3 to 6 months huh? That is GOOD!cuz I have enough to make a coat for a small boy!

Great topic, I've been wondering that myself. I'm currently 297 lbs. I've lost 90 lbs. since the first of the year. At 6'5" the BMI chart says I should weigh 215 lbs. to be in the "healthy" range. I look in the mirror and think 250 lbs. is where I want to be. I quess I'll just wait and see where I "land". DD